Combined reclining chair and reading stand



July 2 3, 1940. B. s. MILLER COMBINED RECLINING CHAIR AND READING STAND Filed Nov. 1 8. 1938 2 sheets-shes; 1

ATTORNEYS Patented July 23, 1940 UNITED STATES" oounnvannscumno R.EADING STAND' Lnemuaamlencmc mm A Application November 1s, 1938, Serial No. 241,291

9 Claims. (01. 1s5- -12s') The present invention relates to a combined reclining chair and reading stand and the primary object thereof is to provide a construction which permits the user to completely relax physically in a semi or fully reclined position while providing means for supporting a book. magazine .and proper angle for correct reading.

Another object of the invention is to provide in i 1 a single unit, a base member having attached thereto an adjustable seatand back with an adiustably supported reading stand carried by the base member with means for permitting adjustment of any element of the unit independently of the other elements.

A-further object of the invention resides in the provision ,of a reading stand in combination with a reading chair, the reading stand being adjustable and including an adjustably supported book rest having means to firmly retain a book or other reading. matter thereon, regardless of the angle to which it is adjusted.

The invention will be fully and comprehensively understood from a consideration of the following detailed description when read in connectionwith the accompanying drawings which form apart of the application. i "In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a transverse sectional view through the device and illustrating the various parts in position for use. i Figure 2 is atop plan view with the adjustable reading stand in section.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary exploded top plan view of the parts comprising the base, seat and back rest.-

Figure 4 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially on line l-4 of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is an inclined vertical sectional view- V be attached by any desired means so as to be 40 taken substantially oniine l! of Figure 1.

Figure 6 is a front elevational view of the reading matter supporting rest.

Figure 7 is a perspective view of one-of the elements employed for retaining the reading mat: ter in position on @the rest.

Figure 8 is a partial sectional view through the f hlnging element and taken on line l-8 of Figure 4.

Figure 9 is a perspective view of the head rest removed from the adjustable back rest, and Figure 10 is a fragmentary perspective view of a ineans of supporting one leg of the adjustable reading stand when'used in bed, a

Referring to the drawings for a more detailed description thereof, the baseportion of the deporting surface.

relatively hard surface, the channeL-shaped vice is formed of a pair of -members i2 and 13 preferably constructed of sheet metal and having the edges thereof rolled upwardly and inwardly as indicated at H, which adds rigidity to the base and also reduces possible damage to bed 5 covers or the like when using the device in bed. The members l2 and iii are hinged at their respective front ends i5, said ends being formed with rolled edges l6 adapted to interlock and support therein a hollow tubular hinge pin IT.

A pair of members similar to the base sections i2 and i3 form a back and seatfor the device and said members are indicated at it and I9, respectively. The inner ends of said members are also formed with rolled edges 20 which 15 interlock and are also connected in hinged relation by means of the hinge pin ,i'l. It is readily understood that in assembling, ,the sections [2, i3, i8 and I9 are arranged in coplanar relation whereby the hinge pin II can be inserted through 20 the respective rolled edges l6 and 20. The free edges of the members l8 and i9 are bent inwardly as indicated at 2| for adding rigidity to the device and at the same time presenting a supporting means for said members when disposed in a 25 collapsed or truly horizontal position and resting upon the base sections l2 and II.

ararngement provided, said sections will adjust themselves to the shape and contour of the sup- Whenusing the device on a members 22 are positioned beneath each end of the sections it and I3 and a relativelylarger channel-shaped member 23 ispositionedbeneath the hinged construction 24. The members may readily removable As afore-indicated the back rest i8 and seat is are adjustably supported relative to the base sections l2 and, respectively, and the means for providing adjustment includes a plurality of 45 struck-up portions 25 arranged on each side of the base i2 and a plurality of similar struck-up portions 28 arranged on each side of the section it. A substantially U-shaped frame 21 is carried by the back rest l8 and is adapted to be The back and seat sections I 8 and I 9, respectively, are provided with removable cushions 3| and 32, said cushions having a plurality of depending straps of the type indicated at 33 in Figure 5, for removably holding said cushions in position. The ends of the straps are formed with hooks which engage suitable openings formed in the rolled portion 2| as clearly illustrated.

An adjustable head rest of the type illustrated in Figure 9 of the drawings is carried by the back rest l8 and if desired the cushion portion 34 may be removable from its support 35. For adjustably attaching the head rest to the back rest, there is provided a slide member 36 which is movable within the guide 31 formed by stamping out a portion of the back member '18. The upper end of the back rest has been cut away as indicated at as in Figure 2, for permitting the head rest 35 to be disposed thereinwhen a short bodied person is using the device.

The member 36 and guide 31 permit the head rest to be moved longitudinally of the back rest I8. However, means is also provided for adjusting the angularity of the cushion 34 with respect to the member 36 which includes a substantially U-shaped bail 39 supported in the ears 46. The intermediate portion 41 of the ball 33 is adapted to be disposed within the serrated portions 42 of the member 36. It is readily understood that adjusting the position of the bail within the serrated portion will alter the angularity of the cushion 34. As illustrated in the drawings, the bail 39 is attached'to the forward end of the head rest and the rear end of said-head rest is pivoted to the member 36 by means of the integrally formed ears 43, which ears serve :as a pivot about which the head rest is adjusted.

' The reading stand indicated generally by the reference numeral 44 is carried by the tubular hinge pin l1 and comprises a pair of hollow substantially cylindrical-shaped leg members 45 having inwardly extending ends 46- which are frictionally held within each end of the hinge pin 11. It is preferred that the ends of the hinge pin l1 be longitudinally slotted a portion of their length and the ends 46 of the leg members 45 be correspondingly slotted as indicated at 41 to provide the necessary frictional joint. It will thus be seen that the bookrest leg memberscan be readily secured in the ends of the tubular pin I1 and that said pin will serve as a hinging. element for the various parts of the device. Means, however, must be provided to prevent the pin from turning in therolled edges I6 01' the base,.as the seat and back members are adjusted. For preventing rotation of said pin there is provided the member 64 more clearly illustrated in Figure 8 of the drawings which is slidably disposed over either or both ends of the hinge pin 11 and which is formed with a tongue adapted to engage the slot 66. When so positioned,- the pin I] will be'keyed to the member 64 and thereby held from rotating in the rolled edges l6 an 20. The member 64 has a substantially flat base portion 61 including outwardly extending-ends 68 and when said. member is nositioned on the pin l1, the portion 61 will rest on the member 23 through the medium of the outwardly extending arms 68 and is preferably secured thereto.-

Thumb screws 48' or other fastening means may be employed for adjustably holding the leg members 45 in position within the hinge pin l1 and said fastening means is removed when fixing the member 64 in position on the pin I1. The adjustable top or bookrest 48 is carried by the leg members 45 through the medium of the U-shaped frame 49, the ends 50 of which are positioned within the hollow leg members 45 and retained therein by means of the thumb screws 5| or other fastening means. Referring to Figure 4 of the drawings wherein is illustrated a rear view of the bookrest 48, itwill be noted that said bookrest carries a hollow tube-like member 52 in which is positioned a second tube 53 which extends beyond each end of the tube 52. The opposite ends 54 and 55 of the legs 49 project within each end -of the tube 53 and are held in position by means of the thumb screws 56. The angularity of the bookrest 48 relative to the legs 49 can be adjusted through the thumb screw 51 which is carried by the tube 52 and engages the tube 53. It will be seen that the bookrest and frame can be adjusted vertically by means of the legs 48 and the entire unit can pivot about the ends 46 of the legs 45. However, when desiring to adjust the position of the bookrest 48 independently of its supporting members, the thumb screw 51 is released whereby said bookrest-is free to rotate about the axis of the tube 53. When the occupant of the chair is in full reclining position, the position of the bookrest 48 can be inverted with the book being supported directly above the head of the occupant. It is, of'course, to be understood that the position of the bookrest and its supporting stand can be adjusted to meet toengage the cover of the book and hold it firmly in place. Since the bookrest 48 is adapted to assume various positions, it is necessary to provide a means for firmly holding the book and pages thereof in position for best use. The means herein provided for accomplishing this purpose includes a centrally disposed guideway 66' and guideways 6| disposed on each end of the bookrest 48. A clamp 62, shown in Figure -7- of the drawings, is slidable within the guideways and the curved portion. 63 engages either the pages or back of the top of the book. The clamps 62 are readily removable to permit the top surface of the bookrest'to be used for writing.

The base illustrated in Figure 10 of the drawings is employed when the entire device is used in bed and the occupant has bed covers pulled over him. The small base portion 64' will rest on top of the covers with one leg of the supportlieved that the utility of the device is readily ap- 5 parent. The occupant will first adjust the angularity of the seat and back portions relative to the base sections. When reclining thereonthe 1 supporting legs of the reading stand will be on '5 opposite sides of the occupant and the bookrest will be positioned directly above him. The angu- ,larity of the book rest can bereadily adjusted by the occupant while in a reclining position to support the book or other reading matter at the desired distance and proper angle for correct reading. Since the upper surface of the bookrest has no obstructions thereon, it is also adapted for useasawritingdeskp Also it will be understood, of course, by those skilled in the art that variations in the hereinabove described device involving the substitution of substantial equivalents for the devices described are intended to be comprehended within the spirit of the present invention and that the invention is capable of extended application and is not confined to the exact showing of the drawings nor to the precise construction described and, therefore, such changes and modifications may be made therein as do not afiect the spirit of the invention nor. exceed the scope thereof as expressed in the appended claims.

What is claimed is: 1. A combined reclining chair and reading stand comprising, a' supporting base, said base being. formed oi a pair of connected sections having hinge elements integral therewith, a back member and a seat member carried by said sections, means for adjusting the angularity of said seat and back members relative to the supporting base, and arms extending vertically-from said base and associated with said hing e elements for supporting the reading stand.

2. A combined reclining chair and reading stand comprising, a supporting base, said base 40 being formed of a pair of connected sections having hinge elements integral therewith, a hollow substantially .tubular hinge pin engaging said hinge elements, a back member and a seat member pivotally carried bysaid sections and connected thereto by means of said pin, means for adjusting the angularity of said seat and back members relative to the supporting base, and arms extending vertically from said base associated with said hinge pin for supporting the readingstand.

3. A combined reclining, chair and reading stand comprising, a supporting base, said base being formed of a pair of connected sections having hinge elements integral therewith, a hollow substantially tubular hinge pin engaging said hinge elements, a back member and a seat member pivotally carried by said sections and. connected thereto by means of said pin, means for adjusting the angularity of said seat and back members relative to the supporting base, and a,

pair of arms extending vertically from said base for supporting the reading stand, said arms hav ing one end thereof bent inwardly and pivotally attached to the ends of said hollow hinge pin.

4. A combined reclining chair and reading stand comprising, a supporting base, said base being formed of a pair of connected sections having hinge elements integral therewith, a hollow substantially tubular hinge pin engaging said hinge elements, a back member and a seat member pivotally carried by. said sections and connected thereto by means of said pin, means for adjusting the angularity of said'seat and back members relative to the'supportingbase, a pair of arms extending vertically from said base for supporting the reading stand, said arms having one end thereof bent inwardly and pivotally attached .to the endsof said hollow. hinge pin, asecond pair of arms adjustably mountedin said first mentioned armsand carrying on, the ends there- 5 of a book rest, and means for adjustabiy mounting the book rest.

I 5. A combined reclining chair and reading stand comprising, a supporting base, said base being formed of a pair of connected sections hav- 10 ing hinge elements integral therewith, a hollow substantially tubular pin engaging said hinge tending vertically from said base and pivotally connected to said hinge'pin for supporting the reading stand.

6. A combined reclining chair and reading stand comprising, a supporting base, said base 2 being formed of a pair of connected sections having hinge elements integral therewith, apin engageable with and uniting said hinge elements, a back member and seat member carried by said base and adjustable on said hinge pin, means for 30 adjusting the angularity 0! said seat and back members relative to the supporting base. arms extending vertically from said base and pivotally connected to said hinge pin for supporting the reading stand, said reading stand including a book 35 supporting member mounted on said vertically extending arms, means for adjusting th'eposition of said member on said arms, and means detacha bly connected to said member for retaining a book thereon regardless of the angularity ofnaid so member or the'position of said arms.

7. A combined reclining chair and reading stand comprising, a supporting base, said base being formed of a pair of connected sections having hinge elements integral therewith, a hollow 45 substantially tubular hinge pin engaging said hinge elements, a back member and seat member carried by said base and adjustable on said hinge pin, a pair of arms extending vertically from said base for supporting the reading stand, said arms 60 each having one end thereof bent inwardly and pivotally attached to the ends of said hinge pin. the other end ofsaid arms extending inwardly and supporting thereon a tubular sleeve, a second sleeve supportedon said first sleeve and carrying as a book supporting member, said second sleeve being rotatable on saidiirst sleeve for adjusting the position 01 said book supporting member, and means detachably connected to said member for retaining a book thereon regardless of the angu- 00 larity of said member or the position of said arms.

8. A combined reclining chair and reading stand comprising, a supporting base, said base being formed of a pair of connected sections having 65 I hinge elements integral therewith, a pin engageable with and uniting said hinge elements, a back member and seat member carried by said base and adjustable on the pin connecting said hinge elements, means i'or adjustingthe angularity of 70 said seat and back members relative to the supporting base, said means including a substantially U-shaped member carried by said seat and back members adapted to engage struck up portions formed on said base, arms extending verti- 75 cally from said base for supporting the reading stand.

9. A combined reclining chair and reading stand comprising, a supporting base, said base being formed of a' pair of connected sections having hinge elements integral therewith, a hollow substantially tubular hinge pin engaging said hinge elements, a back member and seat member pivotally carried by said sections and connected thereto by said pin, means for adjusting the angularity of said seat and back members relative to the supporting base, means for preventing rotation of said pin upon adjusting said seat and back members, and arms extending vertically from said base for supporting the reading stand.

BERNARD S. MILLER. 

